Rutgers=Quality soccer

[Guest]

I agree with you but imagine for the most part parents would cry bloody murder that they never travel to Jeff Cup to play a team 10 mins away from them or equal/lesser in terms of skill. I would be willing to make a small...very small wager on if clubs said no more travelling how many parents would be on this board going the HECK off. I am not sure that it is or is not a money game as I truly believe that, for the most part clubs are really interested in developing young children. Now do bills need to be paid, they sure do but I think most clubs if not all are into child development. You are correct we all need to know THE END GAME but what does that mean??? My END GAME could be totally different than yours and your family. So when we speak of END GAME I think that is a very true statement but with many answers that are all correct based on your family. Listen the goal scored on RU as nothing more than a goal and lets remember these are still young athletes and do mistakes happen and they something fall into a lapse..yep they do. Its all about the growth of the player and no matter what you say RU will learn from this as well as Brown. I believe that both teams have the same journey this morning. Although RU's journey will be hurts as they will have to begin to prepare for next season, Brown's journey, sure feels a little better but they must begin to prepare for this weekend's game and hope to be better then whoever their opponent is or again their journey will be put in the same as the rest that are now preparing for next season.

In the post below...no not Soccer Nut who I enjoy reading his post because although he may have an opinion he is never out to be trashy but only state the obvious and opinion based off what we all see at times. The announcers stated facts when they RU keeps the top talent home. I don't see the wrong in that statement. They didn't say they keep ALL the top talent. RU is built with a lot of PDA talent. I think that's great and as a state University why wouldn't they try to gather the top talent from "ONE" of the top clubs (don't want to upset anyone lol) in the state. I commend RU on that and why not RU its a great place to play and does it work for everyone and can they take everyone....NOPE but doesn't mean that's a bad thing and I know this from experience lol. Don't worry RU will bounce back, I have faith in all those young ladies and I know they will be better with this learning process.

Eric Harris

Thanks for keeping it real and supporting RU and PDA. Go RU and PDA Blue! More NJ fans should have a similar mindset, instead of being jealous of PDA and Rutgers national success. We need more pride for and support for the top university and top club in NJ. Jersey Proud!

[Guest]

Thanks for keeping it real and supporting RU and PDA. Go RU and PDA Blue! More NJ fans should have a similar mindset, instead of being jealous of PDA and Rutgers national success. We need more pride for and support for the top university and top club in NJ. Jersey Proud!

Stop it. EH specifically did not say top club and most certainly did not say top university (ahh Princeton, Stockton College, and more better academically).
This is why there is a distaste toward both. It is not jealousy; it is viewing you as delusional.
It is a very good school and a very good feeder club. How's that?

[Guest]

The announcers on the games keep saying Rutgers get the top players in NJ to stay home and 90% of the team is from NJ. They also appropriately give major props to PDA for developing these players. Are they making that up? Where are the top players in NJ going then?????

The announcers say the talking points given to them. Basically parroting. The announcers screw up names etc. It is not perfect and makes for good discussion on the air.
that's all. Take it with a grain of salt.

[Guest]

The problem is the top PDA players dont go to Rutgers

The problem is twofold. There are not many truly difference making players anywhere and when the NE has one, they rarely consider RU an option. I know it gets clicks and engagement, but the PDA/RU connection is not a net positive if the goal it to be consistently among the top 10 programs in the USA. it is probably good enough to be among the top 25 or so consistently.

[Guest]

The announcers say the talking points given to them. Basically parroting. The announcers screw up names etc. It is not perfect and makes for good discussion on the air.
that's all. Take it with a grain of salt.

Can someone define what they mean by a top player? Are we only talking about National team type players? or are we talking about a player that has several D1 power 5 choices, no matter the record of the power 5 conference schools, and decides to or not stay in NJ?

or is it something else?

Soccer Nut

[Guest]

I don’t have time to read back through this thread. The obvious question to me is this. PDA is a top National Club, RU keeps NJ’s best talent home, assuming this is true than why is RU not on par with the nations best programs? And when say on par constantly in the top 10.

[Guest]

I watched the game and a few things were obvious. Brown came out and pressed high. They were physical and challenged hard on the 50-50s. Rutgers tried to counter punch in the Oneill style by keeping the ball on the ground trying to find feet through angles and space. Brown was quick to close space and gaps and Rutgers had trouble connecting passes. Rutgers decided to stay with their game plan in the second half, no adjustment. The movement off the ball was slow. Rutgers wing play was shut down by Browns outside defenders. They were physical and fast. One could argue that a more direct game would have forced Brown not to press as high but I dont believe the Rutgers team is capable of playing this way. Rutgers have had trouble with the high press in the past but they had the players that were capable of breaking the press with both their technical play and speed. Rutgers is missing some of those pieces this year and I dont know if those pieces will be there in next years class


Soccer Nut

Why are they not able to break the press consistently? The lack of real quality is clear in the youth game. the focus is on individual moments, not collective excellence. the focus i on who scores, not how or vs whom. the focus i on wins, not developing players. the focus is on parents trying to buy "success" for their children instead of allowing them to be challenged, fail and learn from it. Clubs are providing exactly what parents will pay for. Lots of games, winning by any means as early as possible and a tip to College. A system based on soccer excellence would not be very popular or profitable

[Guest]

Can someone define what they mean by a top player? Are we only talking about National team type players? or are we talking about a player that has several D1 power 5 choices, no matter the record of the power 5 conference schools, and decides to or not stay in NJ?

or is it something else?

Soccer Nut

Im not. many people look at players based on what they see on paper, not what we see when we actually watch them play (very few people actually watch objectively to begin with)So much of the perception people have of youth and College players is based on - Club they play for, how many wins they had, individual awards, YNT camps etc. For me, a top player is one that can consistently impact games vs the very best competition, on and off the ball. ive been around the soccer scene for years based on my kids and in that time i dont think i have seen more than 10 truly elite youth players.

[Guest]

I don’t have time to read back through this thread. The obvious question to me is this. PDA is a top National Club, RU keeps NJ’s best talent home, assuming this is true than why is RU not on par with the nations best programs? And when say on par constantly in the top 10.

lets be real. FT, TR,JH,RJ,AC,SC many many others I could name. none chose RU .

[Guest]

Stop it. EH specifically did not say top club and most certainly did not say top university (ahh Princeton, Stockton College, and more better academically).
This is why there is a distaste toward both. It is not jealousy; it is viewing you as delusional.
It is a very good school and a very good feeder club. How's that?

Stockton College better than Rutgers? Yeah ok

[Guest]

Nice match up for RU vs Brown and a real good path to Final 4. Go Lady Knights!!!!

great matchup for Brown. Ease into the tournament

[Guest]

The problem is twofold. There are not many truly difference making players anywhere and when the NE has one, they rarely consider RU an option. I know it gets clicks and engagement, but the PDA/RU connection is not a net positive if the goal it to be consistently among the top 10 programs in the USA. it is probably good enough to be among the top 25 or so consistently.

So RU gets the leftovers while the true top players from PDA go elsewhere? Makes zero sense…..the Big Ten announcers must be clueless then since they repeat over and over that RU keeps the best players in state home to proudly represent their state university. Also tons of props to PDA and rightfully so. They did a whole segment on that during Final 4 last year. Last I checked Final 4 means you’re top 4 in the USA.

[Guest]

Know your facts before throwing around terms like "Elite" and "The Best Conference". Not sure I see either.

Dating back approx 40 years, National Titles:
North Carolina 21, Florida State 3, Stanford 3, Notre Dame 3, Santa Clara 2, USC 2, Portland 2, Penn State 1, UCLA 1, Florida 1, George Mason 1

10 years of Quarter Finalist history:
Notre Dame, UCLA 6, Duke 7, BYU 3, FSU 8, Stanford 6, Penn State 5, North Carolina 6, Boston College 1, Georgetown 2, Virginia 4, VA Tech 1, Michigan 1, Florida 2, South Carolina 6, Texas A&M 3, West Virginia 2, Rutgers 2, Santa Clara 2, USC 2, Auburn 1, Princeton 1, Baylor 2, Washington State 1, Clemson 1, TCU 1, Arkansas 1, Tenn 1

Interesting.

[Guest]

So RU gets the leftovers while the true top players from PDA go elsewhere? Makes zero sense…..the Big Ten announcers must be clueless then since they repeat over and over that RU keeps the best players in state home to proudly represent their state university. Also tons of props to PDA and rightfully so. They did a whole segment on that during Final 4 last year. Last I checked Final 4 means you’re top 4 in the USA.

Great advertisement for PDA and for Rutgers. The Big Ten Network does a great job.

[Guest]

I agree with you but imagine for the most part parents would cry bloody murder that they never travel to Jeff Cup to play a team 10 mins away from them or equal/lesser in terms of skill. I would be willing to make a small...very small wager on if clubs said no more travelling how many parents would be on this board going the HECK off. I am not sure that it is or is not a money game as I truly believe that, for the most part clubs are really interested in developing young children. Now do bills need to be paid, they sure do but I think most clubs if not all are into child development. You are correct we all need to know THE END GAME but what does that mean??? My END GAME could be totally different than yours and your family. So when we speak of END GAME I think that is a very true statement but with many answers that are all correct based on your family. Listen the goal scored on RU as nothing more than a goal and lets remember these are still young athletes and do mistakes happen and they something fall into a lapse..yep they do. Its all about the growth of the player and no matter what you say RU will learn from this as well as Brown. I believe that both teams have the same journey this morning. Although RU's journey will be hurts as they will have to begin to prepare for next season, Brown's journey, sure feels a little better but they must begin to prepare for this weekend's game and hope to be better then whoever their opponent is or again their journey will be put in the same as the rest that are now preparing for next season.

In the post below...no not Soccer Nut who I enjoy reading his post because although he may have an opinion he is never out to be trashy but only state the obvious and opinion based off what we all see at times. The announcers stated facts when they RU keeps the top talent home. I don't see the wrong in that statement. They didn't say they keep ALL the top talent. RU is built with a lot of PDA talent. I think that's great and as a state University why wouldn't they try to gather the top talent from "ONE" of the top clubs (don't want to upset anyone lol) in the state. I commend RU on that and why not RU its a great place to play and does it work for everyone and can they take everyone....NOPE but doesn't mean that's a bad thing and I know this from experience lol. Don't worry RU will bounce back, I have faith in all those young ladies and I know they will be better with this learning process.

Eric Harris

Very true that the end game soccer wise is different for everyone but the irony is 99.9% end up in the same place soccer wise/together-

If it was really about development and just development the current landscape would be much less fixated on the "top league" nonsense. Leave the highest level for the true top talent and stop watering it down with the everyone gets a trophy and make as much money as we can philosophy.

Travel soccer used to mean 1 or 2 out of State events a year at most. Now it means frequent flyer miles for league games that benefit the 99.9% end game kids how?